Yonago

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

• 🌍 Miho-Yonago Airport (YGJ  ^IATA) (Straddles the border of Yonago and Sakaiminato, about 15 km from central Yonago. Airport buses (¥590) and trains connect to the city center.). It is served by flights from Tokyo Haneda, Seoul Incheon and Hong Kong. Some people call this airport Yonago-Kitarō Airport, after the manga character created by the late Shigeru Mizuki. 

• Izumo Airport (出雲空港 IZO ^IATA), Izumo (50km away, at the other end of Lake Shinji.). A slightly distant but useful airport with flights to Haneda, Osaka-Itami, Nagoya-Komaki, Fukuoka, and Oki. By car, it is about 45 minutes along the San'in Expressway; by public transport it is 30 minutes and ¥1030 on the bus to JR Matsue Station, and then 40 minutes and ¥500 by local train (25 minutes and ¥1970 by Limited Express) to Yonago. (updated Jun 2020)

Yonago Station is a stop on the San'in Main Line and the larger Hakubi Line.

The Limited Express Yakumo connects Yonago to Niimi, Takahashi, Sōja, Kurashiki, and Okayama. Okayama is the nearest shinkansen stop.

Yonago is served by the Sunrise Izumo overnight train from Tokyo, which takes 9 hours. Japan Rail Pass holders can travel in the carpet spaces for free, but must pay a surcharge for a bunk or private room.

Yonago is also served by the Super Matsukaze and Super Oki Limited Express trains, which run along the San'in Main Line. Heading east, they go to Kurayoshi and Tottori, reaching the latter in about an hour at ¥3,560. Heading west, they go to Matsue, Izumo, Ōda, and eventually Shin-Yamaguchi.

The Rapid Tottori Liner runs on the San'in Line to Tottori in 1 hr 40 min at ¥1660, and the Aqua Liner reaches Masuda in 4 hours at ¥3,350. Local trains are sufficient for travel to Matsue (40 min, ¥500) and Izumoshi (1 hr 30 min, ¥1,140).

As an alternative to the JR Pass, JR West sells two regional rail passes covering Yonago, which are available to temporary visitors with foreign passports.

• San'in-Okayama Pass. Covers services to Okayama, a large stretch of the San'in Main Line from Hamasaka to Hagi, and a few rural lines in the mountains. It can be used on local and rapid trains and the non-reserved seats of Limited Express trains. 4 days. ¥4,500 if purchased abroad, ¥5,000 if purchased in Japan. (updated Jul 2020)
• San'yō-San'in Pass. Covers a vast area, stretching from Kansai's Urban Network to Takamatsu, Miyajima (via the JR ferry), and Hakata, and including the entire San'yō Shinkansen. It is valid on local and rapid trains and both reserved and non-reserved seats of Limited Express and Shinkansen trains, including Nozomi and Mizuho. 7 days ¥19,000 if purchased abroad, ¥20,000 if purchased in Japan. (updated Jul 2020)

Yonago Station is served by many highway buses.

• Willer Express Bus. An overnight bus that connects with Shinjuku. (updated Jul 2020)
• Izumo-Matsue-Yonago Dream Nagoya Gō. Operated by Chūgoku JR Bus. Service connecting with Nagoya Station's Shinkansen Exit and the Iwatsuka Subway Station. 8 hr 20 min. Arrives at Yonago Station at 05:50. ¥8,350 one way, ¥15,100 return. (updated Jul 2020)
• Momotarō Express. Runs nine times a day from Okayama. 2 hr 30 min. ¥3,100 one way, ¥5,700 round trip. (updated Jul 2020)
• Merry Bird (Yonago Line). Runs seven times a day from Hiroshima Station Shinkansen Exit, Hiroshima Bus Center, and Ōzuka Station. 3 hr 30 min. Confusingly, another Merry Bird runs on the Tottori Line. ¥3,900 one way, ¥7,000 round trip. (updated Jul 2020)
• Nihon Kōtsū. This company runs many routes within Kansai. See the website for information if you're headed to Kyoto, Osaka, or Kobe. (updated Jul 2020)